Matilda Hellman
Professor at Department of Sociology; Faculty
- Telephone:
- +46 18 471 51 60
- Mobile phone:
- +46 70 167 95 51
- E-mail:
- matilda.hellman@uu.se
- Visiting address:
- Engelska parken
Thunbergsvägen 3H - Postal address:
- Box 624
751 26 UPPSALA
Download contact information for Matilda Hellman at Department of Sociology; Faculty
- CV:
- Download CV
- ORCID:
- 0000-0001-8884-8601
Short presentation
Matilda Hellman, PhD, holds a chair in sociology. Her work has furthered knowledge on the ways in which societies produce views on e.g. drug use, mental health, alcohol policy and gambling. Her work has been awarded and recognized internationally. The welfare state in its many historical shapes and models has played a central role in Matilda's research. She is Editor-in-Chief for Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (NAD).
Biography
Matilda Hellman has held many societal positions and been a guest scholar at Harvard University and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). Hellman has served as PI and WP-leader in various international research projects since 2005 (e.g. ERA-NET, FP7, NordForsk). She worked as lecturer in sociology at Tampere University in 2014-2016. She is editor of several scientific journals and has chaired committees in the European Association of Science Editors (EASE). Hellman is affiliated as associate professor at University of Helsinki, Finland, where she in 2016-2022 built up the CEACG-group. She co-leads the Welfare Research Group at Uppsala University together with professor Sandra Torres. She is member of the Research Committee and recruitment committee by the Faculty of Social Sciences. You can view Matilda's complete publication list at the end of her CV.
Titles and degrees:
2012 Title of Docent, Sociology, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki
2011 DrSocSci, Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki.
2002 MSocSci., Department of Social Research, University of Helsinki.
2001 BPolSci, Swedish School of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki.
Awards and honours, selection:
- Future Leaders in Addiction Science, A Celebration of Women in Addiction, The Society for the Study of Addiction (SSA), Celebration of the 1918 People Act, UK, October 2018
- Interview about Finnish alcohol policy, NPR/BBC, December 2017
- Talented Young Scholar International Award, Rotterdam IVO Institute, 2010
- Keynote speaker, Swedish EU Presidency’ Alcohol and public health conference, October 2009
Scientific and societal impact, a selection:
2024- Chair, Centre for social science alcohol and drug research SoRAD, Stockholm University
2021–2022 Chair, Gender Policy Committee of the European Association of Science Editors
2020–22 President, International Society for Addiction Journal Editors (ISAJE)
2018–20 Vice President, International Society for Addiction Journal Editors (ISAJE)
2018–23 Steering group, Masters Program, Social and Health Research & Management, Uni of Helsinki
2021–22 Chair, Assessment board for harm caused by gambling, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
2018–22 Consultant, World Health Organization, Office on non-communicable diseases, Geneva.

Publications
Selection of publications
The importance of debunking constructions
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 3-5, 2023
- DOI for The importance of debunking constructions
- Download full text (pdf) of The importance of debunking constructions
Epistemic projects: what are they and what is their value for sociology?
Part of Semiotic Review, 2023
- Download full text (pdf) of Epistemic projects: what are they and what is their value for sociology?
Recent publications
Addiction discoveries: Hyping and spinning the superiority of neuroscience
Part of Addiction and the Medicalisation of Conspicuous Behaviour, Palgrave Macmillan, 2026
Guided by Energy, Ethics and Empathy
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2025
- DOI for Guided by Energy, Ethics and Empathy
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In Memoriam Kerstin Stenius 1951–2025
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2025
- DOI for In Memoriam Kerstin Stenius 1951–2025
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Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 3-5, 2025
Part of Journal of Behavioral Addictions, p. 567-570, 2025
- DOI for A clarion call to the addiction science community: It's time to resist the anti-scientific policies of the US Trump administration
- Download full text (pdf) of A clarion call to the addiction science community: It's time to resist the anti-scientific policies of the US Trump administration
All publications
Articles in journal
Guided by Energy, Ethics and Empathy
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2025
- DOI for Guided by Energy, Ethics and Empathy
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In Memoriam Kerstin Stenius 1951–2025
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2025
- DOI for In Memoriam Kerstin Stenius 1951–2025
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Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 3-5, 2025
Part of Journal of Behavioral Addictions, p. 567-570, 2025
- DOI for A clarion call to the addiction science community: It's time to resist the anti-scientific policies of the US Trump administration
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Science, DEI and expanded thinking
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 103-106, 2025
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 107-112, 2025
- DOI for A clarion call to the addiction science community: It's time to resist the anti-scientific policies of the US Trump administration
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Part of Canadian Journal of Addiction, p. 4-6, 2025
- DOI for A Clarion Call to the Addiction Science Community: It's Time to Resist the Anti-scientific Policies of the US Trump Administration
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Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 201-203, 2025
Tampere casino: The last bizarre synergy between addiction capitalism and a state gambling monopoly?
Part of European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology, p. 190-210, 2025
- DOI for Tampere casino: The last bizarre synergy between addiction capitalism and a state gambling monopoly?
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"A Double Decline in Character": A Grounded Theory Analysis of Female Drug User Experiences in Iran
Part of Contemporary Drug Problems, 2025
- DOI for "A Double Decline in Character": A Grounded Theory Analysis of Female Drug User Experiences in Iran
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Tripping in the Happiest Country of the World: Use Values of Psychedelics According to Finnish Users
Part of Contemporary Drug Problems, 2025
- DOI for Tripping in the Happiest Country of the World: Use Values of Psychedelics According to Finnish Users
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Flags, sports, and the common good: the nationalism that advances the gambling industry
Part of Addiction Research and Theory, p. 205-212, 2025
- DOI for Flags, sports, and the common good: the nationalism that advances the gambling industry
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Part of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction/Alkoholizm i Narkomania, 2024
- DOI for A clarion call to the addiction science community: It’s time to resist the anti-scientific policies of the US Trump administration
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Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling: Expert opinions on gaps and needs for improvement
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 491-508, 2024
- DOI for Voluntary self-exclusion from gambling: Expert opinions on gaps and needs for improvement
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Part of Drugs, p. 697-707, 2024
Consumption trends and policies under scrutinisation
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 375-377, 2024
- DOI for Consumption trends and policies under scrutinisation
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Interagency collaboration: Complex yet crucial
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 471-473, 2024
- DOI for Interagency collaboration: Complex yet crucial
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We need research centers in our field
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 571-573, 2024
- DOI for We need research centers in our field
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Is a regulation system always just a regulation system?
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 237-239, 2024
- DOI for Is a regulation system always just a regulation system?
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Snow season: The normalisation of cocaine
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 139-141, 2024
- DOI for Snow season: The normalisation of cocaine
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Part of Journal of Gambling Issues, p. 20-24, 2023
- DOI for Sports News And Stories In The Service Of Gamblification: The Finnish State-Owned Gambling Monopoly's Sports-Related Social Media Posts
- Download full text (pdf) of Sports News And Stories In The Service Of Gamblification: The Finnish State-Owned Gambling Monopoly's Sports-Related Social Media Posts
Evidence for improving welfare services
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 421-423, 2023
- DOI for Evidence for improving welfare services
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Alcohol, drugs, tobacco and gambling form a lens for the Nordic welfare states’ biggest challenges
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 97-99, 2023
- DOI for Alcohol, drugs, tobacco and gambling form a lens for the Nordic welfare states’ biggest challenges
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Yet another alcohol policy experiment in Finland
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 325-326, 2023
- DOI for Yet another alcohol policy experiment in Finland
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Part of Sosiaalilääketieteellinen aikakauslehti, 2023
Ways to get a more balanced gender representation in addiction journals’ management and workforce
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 560-567, 2023
- DOI for Ways to get a more balanced gender representation in addiction journals’ management and workforce
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Celebrating 40 years of Nordic collaboration
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 557-559, 2023
- DOI for Celebrating 40 years of Nordic collaboration
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The importance of debunking constructions
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 3-5, 2023
- DOI for The importance of debunking constructions
- Download full text (pdf) of The importance of debunking constructions
Epistemic projects: what are they and what is their value for sociology?
Part of Semiotic Review, 2023
- Download full text (pdf) of Epistemic projects: what are they and what is their value for sociology?
Gambling operators’ social media image creation in Finland and Sweden 2017–2020
Part of Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, p. 40-60, 2022
- DOI for Gambling operators’ social media image creation in Finland and Sweden 2017–2020
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Chapters in book
Addiction discoveries: Hyping and spinning the superiority of neuroscience
Part of Addiction and the Medicalisation of Conspicuous Behaviour, Palgrave Macmillan, 2026
Part of Ongelmallinen rahapelaaminen. Näkökulmia rahapelaamisen varjoihin ja tutkimuksen katvealueisiin, Eetos ry, 2023